books.google.com - When John Randolph Price read Candide-written by Voltaire in 1759 and considered a remarkable satiric novel even to this day--he was inspired to write a similar parody for our time. He would take the basic elements of Candide and weave them into a book of comic criticism of today's contemporary life....https://books.google.com/books/about/From_Eden_and_Back.html?id=CiINPUc-uXUC&utm_source=gb-gplus-shareFrom Eden and Back

From Eden and Back: The Incredible Misadventures of Billy Barker

When John Randolph Price read Candide-written by Voltaire in 1759 and considered a remarkable satiric novel even to this day--he was inspired to write a similar parody for our time. He would take the basic elements of Candide and weave them into a book of comic criticism of today's contemporary life. Price's tale carries symbolic heros through bizarre experiences and disastrous adventures to satirize religious and political extremism, criminal absurdities, strange beliefs, and curious lifestyles as he builds the philosophical and spiritual foundation toward a startling conclusion. The characters are comical, the action filled with ironic twists and turns as the heros frantically search for the meaning of God, life, and this world. With exaggeration and farcical stretches of imagination, the barbs fly at everything considered sacred. Ultimately they find the Master Teacher who has all the answers. It is an exciting journey to the hidden garden where the mysteries of life are finally understood.

About the author (2013)

John Randolph Price is an internationally known lecturer and author of eighteen nonfiction books incorporating ancient wisdom, contemporary metaphysics and spiritual philosophy. Several of his books have been national bestsellers. He is a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio and Television. Later in his career he was executive vice president of a Chicago advertising and public relations agency, and followed as president and CEO of a Houston-based agency. In the 1970s, Price was the recipient of several Grand Prix Awards for best consumer advertising. He also wrote and produced a series of documentary films for the U.S. Department of Energy, for which he received a special commendation for excellence. In 1981, with the publishing of his first book, The Superbeings, he and his wife, Jan, formed The Quartus Foundation for Spiritual Research. John is chairman of the board. He has since been the keynote speaker for such organizations as the National Peace Symposium, the Sun Valley Mountain Wellness Festival, the Association for Research and Enlightenment, the International New Thought Alliance, and the Center for Positive Living. Teaming with Jan, he has conducted hundreds of workshops from coast to coast on material from his books. He and Jan were the originators of World Healing Day that began on December 31, 1986, with over 500-million participants world wide, and the event has continued each year on the same date. In recognition of this effort for peace, they were presented the Light of God Expressing Award by the Association of Unity Churches in 1986. John was also named the recipient of the 1992 Humanitarian Award presented by the International New Thought Alliance, and in 1994 he was presented the INTA's International Joseph Murphy Award for his distinguished service to the New Thought Movement and in recognition of the contribution that his books have made to positive living throughout the world. In 2001, he was given a doctorate degree by the Emerson Institute in recognition of his work, and in 2003, the Holmes Institute conferred upon him the Doctor of Humane Letters. In 2007, he was named one of the world's 500 leading visionaries by The Visionaries Project in England. In 2009, at the 94th Annual International New Thought Alliance World Congress, Jan and John were presented The Torch Bearer Award in honor of their work in championing the principles and cause of New Thought.